In a decade of private practice as a psychologist, Pladziewicz had developed a sort of unofficial specialty treating lawyers. She knew that they, like everyone else, had issues. But she also knew that the very characteristics that made attorneys successful could, ironically enough, spell trouble outside the office. In particular, those same personal characteristics did not bode well for success in business development, an increasingly important activity for firms. Pladziewicz had solutions.
It’s no secret that many lawyers suffer from depression and anxiety, and lead overstressed lives. These days, who doesn’t? But lawyers–particularly those at large firms–have a few more cards stacked against them than do the rest of us. There is pressure from clients, from colleagues, and, as competition for new business heats up, from the increasingly urgent need to go out there and land more work.
